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Kenyans go to the polls on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 after generally peaceful campaigns unlike in neighboring Uganda where campaigns are like a protracted and vicious war between a corrupt and violent regime and much maligned opposition political parties which are treated like enemies of government and not as legitimate political organizations participating in a civil, legal and peaceful activity.
During campaigns for Uganda’s January 2021 general and presidential elections over 50 innocent, harmless, peace-loving and unarmed Ugandans were killed in cold blood by government security forces whose mandate is, inter alia, to protect all citizens and residents of Uganda.
Kenya’s forthcoming elections are the most expensive in Africa. For example, at a fundraising dinner held on July 15 at Nairobi’s posh Safari Park Hotel for Mr Odinga and Ms Karua guests paid a whopping Kenya Shillings 10million or Uganda Shillings 320million per table.
According to the latest opinion polls “Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition” of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Cabinet Minister Martha Karua is poised to win with a comfortable majority. Outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta plus the influential and wealthy Mount Kenya Foundation have openly supported and campaigned for Mr Odinga to the chagrin of Kenyan Deputy President Dr. William Ruto of “Kenya Kwanza coalition.” In a related development a Kenyan High Court Judge ruled on July 28 that Ruto’s running mate and MP Rigathi Gachagua was guilty of corruption and money laundering.
Mr. Gachagua embezzled public funds amounting to KShs200million (UShs6.4billion). Justice Esther Maina ordered him to refund the stolen money to the Treasury of Kenya. Under normal circumstances Gachagua would be disqualified from contesting for election as Deputy President or as a Member of Parliament. Dr. Ruto would be obliged to find a new running mate, repackage his team and sell the “hustler coalition” in less than two weeks which is a herculean task. The alternative is to finish the race with a running mate who is legally and politically soiled, tainted and a lame duck. In the unlikely event that Dr Ruto wins the race, he will definitely face a judicial challenge and litigation soon after the elections. It’s quite evident that Ruto and Gachagua are caught between a rock and a hard place.
Irrespective of the outcome of the elections, I wish to congratulate the government and people of Kenya for ensuring an orderly and peaceful transfer of power every ten years since 1992 in accordance with Kenya’s Constitution which provides for a two-term limit for the president of Kenya.
In this regard, it’s a disgrace and a tragedy of monumental proportions that unpatriotic MPs of the shameless, spineless and toothless Parliament of Uganda took bribes in 2005 in order to remove a two-term limit for presidents from Uganda’s Constitution, the result of which is that there is today no guarantee for an orderly, predictable and peaceful transfer of power in Uganda. Ugandan patriots as well as progressive forces and people of goodwill everywhere are disgusted, embarrassed and offended by what some Ugandan MPs did in 2005 and again in 2017 when they removed the 75-year age limit. The verdict of history on those greedy MPs who betrayed Uganda will be harsh and merciless!
I would like to express and convey appreciation and congratulations to President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya for a job well done and for resisting the temptation to fiddle and tamper with the national constitution with a view to removing the two-term limit which has sadly happened in many African countries. President Kenyatta, a jolly good fellow, has left a powerful, impressive and enviable record and legacy which will inspire current and future generations of Africans.
I predict victory for the “Raka alliance” of Mr. Raila Odinga and Ms. Martha Karua and wish the gallant people of Kenya genuinely free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.
